Teacher Pay Talks Turn On Base Rate

SANFORD — Seminole County School Board negotiators in a first round of salary talks Monday countered teachers' request for a 15 to 20 percent pay raise by offering them no base pay increase.

Negotiators told representatives of the Seminole Education Association that the board proposes to keep base salaries for the county's 2,200 teachers at $15,116, said Ernest Cowley, school board chief negotiator. However, the board would continue to raise salaries as it did last year by as much as 8 percent increments, depending on the teacher's contract and years of service.

''The only money they really put on the salary is for supplemental payments,'' said Marshall Ogletree, SEA chief negotiator. ''It's no more money than teachers would expect. That was already negotiated in their contract last year.''

Despite their divergent proposals, negotiators for both sides said they may reach a compromise during the next bargaining session Aug. 4. Negotiators said they hope to draw up contracts before Aug. 11.

According to the board's proposal this year, a teacher earning a beginning salary of $15,116 last year could earn an additional $302.32 with a 2 percent salary increase. The increase is the result of the teacher's extra year of experience.

That same person would earn $17,098 under the SEA proposal.

It would cost the board about $53 million, more than $2 million more than last year, to implement the board's proposal, said Carey Ferrell, assistant superintendent for finance. This figure includes the proposed annual step pay increase and salaries for 80 additional teachers expected next school year, he said.

Anticipating an increase in the base salary, school board members in excecutive sessions already have set aside money in addition to the $53 million, Ferrell added. He did not disclose the amount.

Negotiators agreed that salary increases for veteran teachers is a priority during this year's talks. For the first time in the county's history, teachers last year rejected an initial contract because teachers with less experience were to receive higher pay increases than veteran teachers.

The contract ratified in October ended up giving teachers a 10.23 percent pay raise for beginning teachers and a 4 percent salary increase for more experienced teachers. The contract also called for teachers with at least 16 years of experience to receive an annual $400 longevity bonus.

The SEA also is asking the board to raise salaries for bus drivers, secretaries and clerks and non-instructional staff, such as maintenance and food service workers, by as much as 20 percent. Both sides have yet to submit a formal proposal.